Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Politics and International Relations with Placement Year

at University of Bath United Kingdom

Study across the discipline with a focus on biological, cognitive, developmental and social psychology with options including clinical and health psychology.

This is a science degree that offers you insights into many aspects of psychology recognised by the British Psychological Society (BPS). You’ll gain a solid grounding across the discipline with a focus on biological psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology and individual differences. You will gain a critical appreciation of different theoretical perspectives and extensive training in research methods and project work.

In your first year you'll gain an understanding of basic concepts, methods and theories in psychology including individual differences, biological, cognitive, developmental and social psychology and their applications.

In your second year you'll advance your knowledge in the core areas of psychology, such as cognitive neuroscience, social psychology and developmental psychology. You'll extend your research methods skills and project work.

In your final year you’ll complete a research project and choose from a wide range of optional units relating to the current research expertise of academic staff. These cover areas that are not always found in other psychology degrees.

You’ll have the opportunity to apply for peer mentoring, research apprenticeships (working with a member of research staff), summer internships and peer assisted learning and leadership roles.

Combining core economics with relevant finance topics, this course is ideal preparation for a finance-focused career.

If you are considering work in a financial institution, consultancy, ministry of finance or economics, or central bank, our MSc Economics and Finance course is for you.

This specialist master’s brings together a compelling combination of training in advanced economic theory with relevant finance units; some of which are taught by our School of Management.

Starting with a comprehensive refresher course in essential maths and economics skills, you will go on to explore how economics can be used to help address real financial issues such as the global financial crisis.

You will use a deeper understanding of economic theory to gain additional insights into these events, and we will support your investigations with rigorous training in econometrics to allow you to interpret and analyse empirical data effectively.

The dissertation will give you the chance to work with one of our experienced lecturers on a topic of your interest and apply your knowledge to a specific problem.

Combine specialist knowledge in engineering with advanced business skills to impact the future of vehicle engineering in the automotive sector.

Our course gives you the opportunity to build on your first degree with more in-depth knowledge in automotive engineering. Alongside this, you’ll learn key business management skills relevant to a variety of industries but focusing first on the automotive sector.

You’ll advance your technical engineering knowledge in areas such as propulsion systems and how they will influence the future of vehicle engineering. Exploring a range of automotive engineering applications and technologies, you’ll consider their impact, analysing past failures and predicting future challenges and successes. Using a systems-thinking approach, you’ll learn to understand wider challenges that affect the automotive sector including moral, ethical and sustainability issues.

Develop a broad foundation of theory and practical skills in mathematics, statistics and computing, preparing you for careers in mathematics and beyond.

Mathematical sciences combines traditional mathematics with statistics and computing. This course is for you if you’d like to keep your options open and study a broader range of topics.

Tailor to your interests

In the first year, you’ll explore an introduction to mathematics at university level before choosing areas in which you’d like to specialise later in the course. In year two, you’ll also have the option to study computing, physics and economics units run by other departments. All of our courses are flexible and allow for a wide choice of units after year one. If you find you want to specialise more, you may be able to switch courses during the first year.

Develop the skills to resolve complex economic issues. Learn economic theories, methods and applications, and become acquainted with chosen specialist areas.

In this course, you’ll study the foundations of economic theory and its applications to real-world problems. You’ll explore the connections between the economy as a whole, its main sectors (such as businesses, the financial sector, government, for example) and the decisions of individuals.

You’ll learn how to apply economic principles and methods to policy issues. You’ll develop your knowledge of institutions to understand how economic decisions and policies are made.

Your first year is concerned with key concepts in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. You’ll further your skills in core mathematics, statistics and data analysis. In Year 2, you’ll build on this through intermediate study of economic theory. The study of econometrics will enable you to estimate and forecast economic relationships. The final year will teach you advanced economic theory. A selection of optional units will enable you to tailor your expertise to your personal interests and career aspirations.

Year abroad

On this course you'll broaden your horizons and experience another culture whilst studying a course that complements your studies at Bath.

Study abroad locations include the National University of Singapore and Stellenbosch University (South Africa), as well as others. We seek to further expand on these. Study abroad opportunities are limited and are subject to availability at our partner institutions.

Prepare for an international career. Achieve fluency in your A-level language and pick up a new one. Deepen your knowledge and understanding of political and cultural issues.

Studying Modern Languages enables you to read, write and speak two foreign languages with proficiency, as well as understand the social, political, economic and cultural evolution of the principal countries in which these languages are spoken. This degree combines the study of two languages, one at advanced level and a second at either advanced level or at beginner (ab-initio) level.

You’ll gain a deep understanding of contemporary culture in these societies, providing you with a genuine international perspective. You will develop highly valuable work-related skills enabling you to conduct research and analysis with confidence. You’ll be able to communicate, debate and interact in your chosen languages at an advanced level.

You will have intensive language tuition in both languages throughout the course. Your ab initio language allows you to quickly learn the language in your first two years at Bath in order to achieve the ability to study abroad in the third year. Your advanced language will enable you to engage with cultural and political issues in the target language and achieve high levels of fluency.

You’ll gain skills in research, analysis, communication and argument, and experience direct exposure to the cultures you study.

Year abroad

A year abroad in your third year is an exciting part of the degree. On your year abroad you will spend time in the countries of your chosen languages, in Europe or beyond. You can choose to study at a foreign university, to work as a language assistant in a school abroad, or to undertake a work placement abroad. You also have the flexibility of a combination of any of these options.

Mathematics enables us to reason logically, to understand structure and to formulate scientific principles, whether from the physical, life or social sciences.

Choose this course to gain specialist knowledge in pure mathematics, applied mathematics and/or statistics.

Tailor to your interests

At the start of the course, you’ll gain a broad education in pure and applied mathematics, including programming and statistics. You’ll have the freedom to study a broader mathematical pathway or specialise in your favourite subject areas, enhancing your analytical thinking and appreciation of the beauty of mathematics.

All of our courses are flexible and allow for a wide choice of units after year one. You may be able to switch courses during the first year.

Placement Year

Going on placement gives you the opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge to a year working professionally. You’ll be employed full-time in a role to match your future career ambitions, broadening your experience and transferable skills. This could give you a competitive edge when applying for graduate jobs.

We have links with some of the industry’s leading companies. Recent placement employers include BAE Systems, EY, Office of National Statistics, JP Morgan and Deloitte.

Develop a deep understanding of the fundamental principles of physics, expand your knowledge with flexible options and get involved in our high-level research.

This is our broadest physics degree and gives you the opportunity to explore a wide range of areas in physics, from the nanoscale to the most energetic processes in the Universe.

As well as gaining a deep knowledge and understanding of physics, you’ll graduate with strong experimental, mathematical and computational expertise. You’ll gain powerful problem-solving, analytical and critical thinking skills, preparing you for careers in physics and many other fields as well.

Placement Year

Going on placement gives you the opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge to a year working professionally. You’ll be employed full-time in a role to match your future career ambitions, broadening your experience and transferable skills. This could give you a competitive edge when applying for graduate jobs.

You can choose from a wide range of roles to match your interests, from working in marketing to a lab-based role at a research institute. We have links with some of the industry’s leading companies. Recent placement employers include BAE Systems, CERN, Dyson, Morgan Stanley, Rolls-Royce and Samsung.

As part of this MSc, you will gain an up-to-date knowledge of clinical psychology theory and practice, including research. You will study different ways of understanding mental health problems in adults and children, and share insights into relevant theories and the latest practice models applicable to the UK.

You will be introduced to the foundation skills of clinical psychology practice, including interviewing, observation and psychometric assessment.

You will also learn about research in healthcare, looking at issues such as research design, governance and ethical considerations before going on to conduct your own piece of research.

Studying clinical psychology at Bath means you will be joining our Department of Psychology. The research interests of our members span a broad range of clinically relevant topics, including ageing, common mental health problems, psychosis, autism, eating disorders, persistent physical symptoms, child maltreatment and trauma amongst others.

You will leave this course with:

• Research skills that can be applied to primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare settings
• Foundation knowledge of clinical psychology approaches, theories and models
• A strong foundation for further postgraduate training in clinical psychology or work as an assistant psychologist

Apply the full breadth of physics to a wide range of astrophysical phenomena from star formation to black hole growth and the expansion of the Universe.

Physics with Astrophysics at Bath will give you a strong grounding in physics, along with in-depth specialist knowledge of astrophysics. You’ll learn how to combine evidence from stellar and extragalactic astronomy to build consistent theoretical models of the evolution of galaxies.

Topics covered include exoplanets, galaxies, cosmology, stars and stellar evolution, general relativity and high energy astrophysics. There'll also be opportunities for you to carry out both observational and computational astrophysics projects alongside our astrophysics research group.